Lifestyle Food Arizona Iced Tea Founder Says He’ll ‘Never Stop Fighting’ to Keep the Price of a Can at 99 Cents "It’s my little way to give back," Don Vultaggio said By Angel Saunders Angel Saunders Angel Saunders has been a writer at PEOPLE since 2023. She’s previously worked at iHeartMedia, IndieWire, and REVOLT. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 27, 2024 12:13AM EDT Comments Arizona drinks in assorted flavors. Photo: Getty The founder of Arizona Iced Tea is keeping his consumers in mind! In a new interview that aired jointly on Today and Morning News NOW Wednesday, June 26, NBC’s Savannah Sellers spoke with Don Vultaggio — the man behind the family beverage brand. During their conversation, Vultaggio was proud to explain why Arizona Iced Tea has remained affordable for over three decades. Arizona Iced Tea founder Don Vultaggio. TODAY/Youtube “We’re successful. We’re debt free. We own everything. Why?” he said in response to Sellers asking why his company doesn’t raise the price of the products to increase profits. Vultaggio continued, “Why have people who are having a hard time paying their rent have to pay more for our drink?” “Maybe it’s my little way to give back.” The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The first Arizona Iced Tea products went on sale in 1992, and since being introduced, they have always been sold at “just 99 cents for a 23-ounce can,” Sellers said. Vultaggio started his family business in New York after being inspired by the success of Snapple products. Today, Arizona Iced Tea is a multi-billion dollar company and has “close to 200 flavors and three billion units sold a year.” Vultaggio seems content with his success. Asked again if he intends to ever raise his prices, the mogul had this to say: “Not in the foreseeable future. We’re gonna fight as hard as we can for consumers.” He also admitted he’d never been to Arizona when he named the beverage but got the idea from a home his family used to live in that made him think of the state. “We had a house in Queens that looked like it belonged in Arizona, and that’s where the name came from,” he said. Ice-T Surprises Raising Cane's Customers —and Influences Their Drink Orders — for National Iced Tea Day (Exclusive) Decades later, Vultaggio is still holding onto his family values. “Beautiful can designed by my wife,” he said of the company’s signature iced tea. “Beautiful look, turquoise, pink, and yellow — vibrant colors. Great taste, and a fair price.” His two sons are also following in their father’s footsteps. Wesley serves as chief creative office of the brand, and Spencer is the chief marketing officer. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Vultaggio called working with his boys “great.” “Anybody who hasn’t tried it should,” the proud father said while laughing. “Otherwise, when your children grow and they go to college, you only see them on birthdays, holidays, weekends sometimes. I get to see them all the time.”